Jane Ann Parker was born the daughter of John and Florence (Velander) Parker on July 6, 1945 in Glenwood, Minn. Jane grew up and attended school in Detroit Lakes, graduating from Detroit Lakes High School in 1963. She went on and attended Moorhead State College in Moorhead, graduating from there in 1967. On April 22, 1967 she married Jim Perkins in Detroit Lakes. Jane taught school in West Fargo, and in 1971, moved to East Grand Forks, where she taught school until 1986. In 1986 she began teaching elementary physical education at Viking Elementary in Grand Forks, until retiring in 2008.